Bale stacker



Oct. 11, 1966 J. H. HOLLYDAY 278,56

5 Sheets-Sl'zeel 1 BALB STACKER Original Filed June 20. 1963 Oct' 111966 J. H. HOLLYDAY 3,278,049

BALB STACKER Original Filed June 20, 1963 5 Sheets-Shee* 2 INVENTOR.

JAMES H HOLLY/W BY ff@ way# Oct. 11, 1966 J. H. HOLLYDAY 3,278,049

BALE STACKER Original Filed June 20, 1963 Sheets--Sheefl 5 y 5 ICH 5g WI @C59 2.0 44

INVENTOR.. JAMES H. HOLLVDAY /64 /6'6 /64 BY M AGE/vr United StatesPatent Office Patented Oct. 1l, 1966 3,278,049 BALE STACKER James H.Hollyday, New Holland, Pa., assignor to Sperry Rand Corporation, NewHolland, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Continuation of application Ser.No. 289,259, June 20, 1963. This application Apr. 21, 1965, Ser. No.451,684 11 Claims. (Cl. 214-6) This invention has to do with the art oftrucks, or wagons specifically designed for automatically picking upbales of hay from the ground where deposited by hay balers, stackingthem on the wagon to form a wagon carried load in the form of a groundstack, and, upon arrival at the destination for the ground stack,erecting the load on end to form the ground stack. Such wagons are nowwidely used in the West and Southwest and their use is being extended toother portions of the country. This application is a continuation ofapplication Serial No. 289,259, now abandoned.

In making this invention, there have been several very important objectsin view. Outstandingly, it has been aimed for the very maximum insimplification, reduction in first cost, lessening of maintenance cost,reduction in weight and adaptation of the mechanism for use with balersof different sizes. Ancillary `objects are to increase carrying capacityto render construction in various capacities the more readily achieved,and the more ready adaptation to bales of varying dimensions.

Attainment of the lirst several and outstanding objects is achievedprimarily by reducing the number of hydraulic motors and valves of thehydraulic system utilized to operate the mechanism to a veritableminimum. One hydraulic motor is used, the single control valve for whichis the existing control valve of the hydraulic system of the towingvehicle, usually a conventional farm tractor. This single hydraulicmotor, or cylinder, operates the vertical stack building mechanism, themechanism for transferring the completed vertical stacks to the loadcarrying and ground stack erecting platform, and the mechanism forerecting said platform to form the erected ground stack.

A contributing factor to the general simplication is the method oferecting the vertical stack by initially acting upon the bales receivedfrom the ground and laid lengthwise transversely of the vehicle by`introducing the successively picked up bales each at the bottom of thestack being builded, growing the stack to full height bale by bale addedto its bottom rather than the top and then moving each such stack asvertically completed rearwardly out af the region of its building, thatregion being located at the very forefront of the load carryingplatform. This, of course, requires for the stack per se a space of butone bale width (or thickness as the case may be), leaving the entireremainder of the length of the wagon rearwardly for the load carryingcapacity. One has only to choose the number of bales to be carried asconstituting a given capacity, and, knowing the base dimension of theground stack he desires, choose the stack height which meets thatcondition, whereupon the length of the load carrying platform becomesdeterminate. Thus, diierent stacking arrangements are readily made.Adjustment for use with bales of different dimensions are readily made,the width of the transverse stacking section being determined by thewidth of the bale side to be laid down.

In the accompanying drawings, the best embodiment of this invention isshown. The structure is illustrated in semidiagrammatic form toillustrate and emphasize the general nature and functional relations ofthe parts.

Of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a wagon taken in thecentral longitudinal plane of symmetry;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front end elevation. In its right hand half thetwo foremost chassis cross members and the frontal portions of itssub-frame have been broken away in order to more clearly show partslocated in the rear of these members;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view looking upwardly in thedirection of arrows 3 3 applied to FIG. l and showing the controlmechanism governing the relative functioning of the hydraulic cylinder,and its piston and piston rods; and

FIG. 4 is a combined diagram of the hydraulic, rnechanical, andelectrical control means.

In the drawings, numbers have been assigned to the several differentgroups of mechanism and applied to lines by headed arrows which pointsgenerally to the groups, or generally indicate the longitudinal extentof the regions which they occupy. The wagon chassis or body per se isdesignated 10, the load carrying and ground stack erecting platformnumeral 12, the bale receiving and stacking section 14, the symbolicallyillustrated pick-up device 16 (FIG. 2), the vertical stack building andtransfer mechanism 18, the unitary motor mechanism 20. The ground stackerecting mechanism and the controls of the unit motor utilized bymechanisms 18 and 12 in common, are together designated by numeral 22,an illustrative push-off mechanism by numeral 24, and the hydrauliccontrol system of FIG. 4 by numeral 26.

It is not intended that the present invention be limited to theparticularly mechanisms 16 and 24 shown herein. These are merelysymbolic indications `of means which pick up and deliver bales to themechanism of this invention and means to free the mechanism of thisinvention from the completed stacks which it forms and erects. Followingis the detailed description of the elements which go to make up theseseveral groups, group by group in the order above set forth, and in thenumerical order of the numbers which serially designate their respectiveparts.

The trailer or wagon The chassis 10 is composed of side rails or sills28 interconnected by a plurality of cross beams 29, 30, 32, 33 and 34. Achassis front extension 35 provides support for forwardly located partsof several of the mechanisms, support for certain control levers, andspace for an operators seat, should it be desired to have the operatorride the vehicle rather than manipulate its controls from a towingtractor. The chassis is suported for movement over the ground byrearwardly located supporting wheels 36. Wheels 36 are journalled on anaxle 37 carried by an axle springing structure 38. Fore-and-aftextending flanged gussets 39 are welded respectively tot chassis crosssill 29 and rigid chassis bracing cross shaft 40, and commonly welded tospring housing 38. The rigid cross bracing shaft 4t) is of substantialcross section and is rigidly welded to depending anged brackets 41having top flange connections welded or bolted t-o the underside of trerear portion of side sills 28.

The numeral 42 indicates the generally U-shaped sides of a dependingsub-frame whose upper ends are welded to the side sills 28 at crossbeams 29 and 34, and designed to afford support for certain mechanicalcontrol members of unit motor mechanism 20 and vehicle towingconnections. Front and rear cross members 44 extend between the U-shapedsides 42 of the sub-frame. A towing hitch 46 is welded to the upper ofthe two foremost cross members 44 in its center and extends forwardlytherefrom. A bracing gusset 47 for hitch 46 is respectively welded tothe hitch and to the centers of the upper and lower front cross member44 of the sub-frame.

The load carrying and ground stack erecting platform 12 Platform 12 hasseveral longitudinally extending rails 48. Frontal, intermediate andrear cross rails 49, 50 and 50', respectively, are so secured to thelongitudinal rails 48 as to constitute the platform an open, but rigid,load carrying unit. Vertical rear end stanchions 51 are supported fromthe -longitudinal rails 48, and together constitute support for that endof the load which is to become the bottom of the groun-d stack. Thestanchions 51 are carried in stanchion sockets 52 having connectinggussets 53 which are bolted to the rails 48. Gussets 54 are bolted ontorails 48 of platform 12 and pivoted upon rigid chassis cross shaft 40.Thus, the main body of the load on platform 12 is supported suitablyfrom chassis sills 28 near their rear ends, while the front end of theload is supported from the chassis through bearing of load platformcross rail 49 upon chassis cross rail 32.

The bale receiving and stacking section 14 A bale receiving andsupporting casing 58 depends from the underside of the chassis frame andextends transversely of the chassis. The casing is of rectangular crosssection somewhat exceeding in size the transverse cross section of thebales which it is to receive. The casing accommodates below the chassislevel two received bales extending longitudinally end to end across thechassis. The casing sides are extended upwardly to different heights,its top and its left hand end are entirely open, while the bottom isclosed to support the bales. Its right hand end is provided with a balestopping half height wall 58 which is carried by the bottom and forwardside of the casing and is not connected to the rear wall of the casing.The forward side and bottom of the casing may be formed as an integralunit, but the rear side of the casing is a separate member as may beseen in FIG. 1. A series of four gussets 62 support the casing from thechassis cross beam 32 through welded connections to the bottom of thecasing. The rear side of the casing is the shorter of the two sides, itstop not reaching to the top of the chassis by a considerable margin. Therear wall of casing S8 is supported on gussets 62 by slotted anglebrackets 59 and bolts 6i). This enables the rear wall of lcasing 58 tobe readily adjusted forwardly toward the front wall of casing 58 toadapt the mechanism for use with various sizes of hay balers. The frontside of the casing is extended several inches above the top of thechassis and is secured by any suitable means to the rear face of crossbeam 8S secured to the vertical members 83 of a super-structure framewhich carries a number of the elements of the truck stacking andtransfer mechanism.

Pairs of slots 66 are provided in ycasing 58 (FIG. 2) and extend invertical planes. The slots of each pair are symmetrically located withrespect to the center of gravity of the bales successively introduced tothe casing. These slots extend all the way from top to bottom of thefront wall and across the bottom of the casing substantially to its rearwall and are of a width sufficient to accommodate with adequateclearance, forks 89 of the stacking mechanism in their vertical movementof lifting the bales from casing 58 to and a little above the level ofplatform 12. The distance between slots 66 and the forks 89 which enterthem is sufficiently great to insure that the center of gravity of baleselevated by the forks will lie well inside of them irrespective of theusual difference in length of bales encountered in good -balingpractice.

Two series of hay dogs 68 with four dogs in each series are supportedrespectively from the front and rear of the casing and project into theupward path of bales being stacked. The upper ends of dogs 68 arelocated at such height as to support bales after they are elevated tothe level of the top of the chassis by forks 89. Each series iscomprised of two pairs of dogs, one pair engaging each bale outwardly ofthe slots 66 on opposite sides of the center of gravity whereby thebales are substantially symmetrically supported. The details andfunctionings of various dogs commonly used are so well known that onlysymbolic illustration is used. Angle brackets 70 are welded to the outerfaces of the front and rear walls of bale support casing 58 and servedto pivotally mount the dogs 68. Note that fore-and-aft adjustment of therear wall of casing 58 (FIG. l) carries the rear series Iof dogs 68therewith. Dog springs 72 retain the dogs in projected positions againstthe bottoms of the slots 74 in the front wall through which they projectand against the top of the rear wall over which they project. Observefrom FIG. 1 that by making the cross beam 32 of the chassis frame ofangular shape and placing it slightly to the rear of the rear wall ofcasing S8, ample space 76 is Aprovided to `give the dogs freedom foroperation. When a bale is lifted against their inner ends, they moveoutwardly of the casing against the pressure of springs 72 to positionsalongside their supporting angles 7 t) and braces 62.

Pick-np mechanism 16 Conventional hay balers eject completed bales ontothe ground with the longest dimension ofthe bale being in the directionof travel of the baler, which is also the direction of travel of thebale stacking wagon of this invention. So far as the present inventionis concerned, any conventional bale pick-up mechanism may be used whichwill engage bales so lying, convey the bales to the height of the bottomof bale receiving casing 58, and turn and deliver the bales transverselyinto the open end of casing 58. Such mechanism is symbolically indicatedat 16 in FIG. 2. It receives its operating power from separateconventional drive means not shown. The pick-up mechanism illustratedhas a bottom floor 73. An apron type conveyor 77 travels over floor 73which should reach substantially to ground level if the bales are to bepicked up off the ground. Front and rear side walls 78 and 79respectively, of the pick-up are spaced apart substantially the width ofbale receiving and supporting casing 58. At least the rear wall 79extends laterally beyond apron conveyor 77 and curves forwardly toreceive the end of a bale lying on the ground. Triangular gusset plates80 are secured in a suitable manner to the respective side walls ofcasing 58. Hinges 81 connect the front and rear pick-up walls 78 and 79`to the gusset plates 80 and provide for folding the pick-up mechanism tothe side of the vehicle during road transport. A bale end and sideengaging chain 82 extends over the inside middle of the rear pick-upwall 79 and is inclined downwardly. Chain 82 ends above ground level ina position to be engaged first by the end and then by the side of abale. The bale is turned by such engagement to move onto apron 77 and sobe entered endwise into casing 58. Both the chain 82 and the apron 77are continuously driven.

Truck stack erecting and transfer mechanism 18 A framework havingvertically extending side members 83 and 84 is erected upon the frontportion 35 of chassis sills 28. Note that members 83 extend below thechassis for the depth of casing 58 to afford added support therefor andfor the pick-up mechanism 16. A transverse frame member 85 is connectedbetween members 83 a few inches above the top of the chassis, whileadditional transverse frame members 86 and 87 extend between thevertical members 83 and 84 at the top of the frame work. Channel members88 whose sections face inwardly and whose rear ends open below the toprear cross member 86 are provided at the top of the frame work .andextend in the fore-and-aft direction.

The numeral 89 indicates the two pairs of lifting forks above referredto as entering slots 66. Normally they lie immediately below slots 66 insymmetrical relation to the centers of gravity of the bales in casing58. They extend rearwardly from their support 90 nearly all the wayacross the width of the casing 58. They must, however, terminateforwardly of the forward-most position to which the rear wall of casing58 may be adjusted. The lifting forks 89 are carried by a transverselyextending fork supporting tube 90 in front of casing 58 through whichsaid forks project and to which they are welded on both sides. The tube90 is secured by welding to a pair of vertically reciprocable rods 92.These rods .are located mid-way between the forks of the respectivepairs, so symmetrically supporting the bale. Loosely fitting aligningbearings 94 for guiding the rods 92 are secured to the front face offrame cross member 85. The upper ends of rods 92 are connected to theopposite ends of a vertical-ly reciprocable cross beam 96. A cam lever100 is .arranged in the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the vehicle.It is fulcrumed at 102 on intermediate cross beams 103 interconnectingfront vertical members 84, and connecting at its opposite end 104 withthe center of fork rod cross beam 96. A- vertically extending cammingbeam 106 is fulcrumed at 108 on the chassis cross beam 33 in the planeof symmetry of the vehicle and having at its lower end an operatingconnection with piston rod 136 of the motor mechanism 20, and bearing acam follower roller 110 in its slotted upper end 112. When the lever 106is operated through `angles a and b (FIG. l), in this succession,follower 110 rides over cam surfaces 114 and 115 of cam lever 100. Whilethe lever 106 is operating through angle a the cam follower 110 operatesupon cam surface 114 of lever 110 to raise forks 89 from their full lineposition below the bottom of casing 58 past yielding dogs 68 to theirdotted line position slightly above the top of the chassis and the loadplatform 12 and `also slightly above the top of the hay dogs 68. Thislifts those bales entered in casing 58 from level A to level B (FIG. l),at which latter level they are retained by the spring re-entered dogs 68when the forks `are again lowered. The cam surface 115, when the lever100 reaches the dotted line position of FIG. l, lies on an arc above thelever fulcrum 108 and so no further lifting movement can ensue if thelever 106 be further oscillated through angle b.

For the purpose of transferring completed stacks from the bale receivingand stacking section 14 to the loadcarrying platform 12, -a rightangular frame work having vertically and horizontally extending members116, 118, and 120 is intervened between the fork lift mechanism just nowdescribed and the front sides of the bales. A 4right angularlongitudinally reciprocable carriage having side and cross rails 122 and123 is roller borne within the inwardly facing top side channels 88 ofthe supporting framework. This carriage carries the transfer framework116, 118, 120 at its rear end. Angular and diagonal braces 124, 126,respectively, extend between the side rails 122 and the transferframework just outlined. Adjustable tension springs 128 are providedbetween the vertical frame members 84 and the ends of the carriage siderails 122. They .serve to retract the carriage and the transferframework 116, 120 to the full line position shown in FIG. 1 followingthe transfer movement to the dotted line position shown, and normallyhold it so retracted.

In FIG. 1 it may be seen that the upper end of slot 112 in lever 106 isclosed by an end piece 130. The end 130 is provided with a somewhatrounded rear face which engages the foremost cross member 123 ofcarriage 122, 123 when lever 106, having reached the end of cam surface114 of lever 100, enters upon its arc-shaped surface 115. Whenever level106 is operated through the -additional angle b carriage 122, 123 ismoved rearwardly from its full line to its dotted line position to carrythe transfer framework depending .and braced from it to the dotted lineposition vshown in FIG. 1, thereby transferring a formed stack fromstacking section 14 to the platform 12.

Unitary motor operating mechanism 20 A cylinder 134 having a piston rod136, piston 137 (FIG. 4) and a piston rod pin 138 constitutes the basicelements of the unitary hydraulic cylinder motor 20. This motor islongitudinally arranged slightly below the bottom of the bale receivingcasing 58, and like members and 106 of the mechanism 18 lies in thevehicles plane of symmetry. Pin 138 connects the piston rod permanentlywith the lower end of oscillating lever 106. A fixed extension 140projects from the rear end of the cylinder 134 and carries a cross pin142 in the same horizontal plane as the piston rod 136 and its pinconnection 138 with lever 106. A pair of diverging oscillatable links144 are carried by transversely spaced pivots 146 on chassis beam 30from which they are swung. At their lower ends they connect with pin 142of extension 140 of cylinder 134 and so support and transversely bracethe rear end of the cylinder.

Rear and front pairs of duplex downwardly facing deep hooks 148 and 150,respectively, are adapted to straddle the transversely extended ends ofcylinder pin 142 and piston pin 138. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, they arelocated just outside of elements 106 and 144 with which the pinsconnect, `and are spaced a little from the lianks of cylinder 134 toafford the latter clearance for its movement. These hooks serve, whenthey embrace the pins, to fix in longitudinal position either thecylinder 134 on the one hand or its piston 137 on the other.

The hooks 148 and 150 are pivotally supported in fixed .position fromthe side members 42 of the sub-frame and from the underside of thecasing 58 by supporting plates 151 which project horizontally inwardlyfrom members 42 just below casing 58. Flanges 152 on plate 151 at theouter ends serve to attach the plates to the members 42. Braces 154extend vertically between the inner ends of the plates 151 and theunderside of casing 58. Pairs of narrow rails 156 ank hooks 148 and 150.The rear and front ends 158 and 160, respectively, (FIG. 3) of rails 156carry the pivots 162 upon which hooks 148 and 150 are pivotally mounted.So long as ho-oks 14:8 are engaged with cylinder pin 142 (see FIGS. 1and 4) and hooks 150 are disengaged from piston pin 138 as shown in fulllines in FIG. 4, the piston only is free to move. It may be affordedeither a movement limiting the oscillation of lever 106 to angle a or amore extended movement through both angles a and b, merely bycontrolling the Volume of pressure lluid admitted to cylinder 134.

The ground stack erecting mechanism Z2 Since the unit motor mechanismserves commonly both the stacking and transfer mechanism 18 and theground stack erecting mechanism, certain parts of the motor mechanismnecessarily also serve parts of ground stack erecting mechanism.Outstandingly, this is true of the cylinder, its piston and piston rodand the duplex extension links 144 which support the rear end of thecylinder, but, of course, a number of the other elements described enterinto the erecting operation. Essential parts of the erecting mechanism22 are the following.

Operating yokes 164 connect together the respective pairs of duplexhooks 148 and 150. A longitudinal link 166 interconnects the yokes. Alink 168 extends from the forward operating yoke 164 upwardly andforwardly to an operating control position, and a bell crank lever 170is mounted upon the fore-end of the chassis. This lever 17 0 has twodefined positions, that in which the hooks yare shown in full lines(FIGS. 1 and 4), hooks 148 being down land hooks 150, up and that shownin dotted lines (FIG. 4) in which hooks 150 embrace the piston pin 138thereby fixing the piston with 137 against movement, while hooks 148 areraised, thereby freeing the cylinder 134 for bodily movement rearwardlywith respect to the now fixed piston.

A sturdy link 172 is located in the plane of symmetry .and has its lowerforked end (FIG. 3) pivoting on pin 142 yand embracing cylinderextension 140. Link 172 extends upwardly and rearwardly from pin 142 andhas its upper end pivotally connected through a heavy pivot pin 174(FIG. 1) with the middle pair of rails 48 of the platform 12 at asubstantial radial distance forwardly of the circular chassis crossshaft 40 about which -the load platform 12 is arranged to be tilted inerecting the ground stack. When hydraulic pressure is admitted to thecylinder behind its piston (the hooks 148 and 150 being in the dottedline position shown in FIG. 4) pressure forces cylinder 134 bodilyrearwardly as supported by links 144, thus exerting its force throughconnecting rod link 172 to lift the load platform and its load andup-end it to place its stanchions 51 close to or upon the ground. Duringthis movement the links 144 swing pin 142 on a shallow arc rearwardly tothe dotted line position of FIG. l. The pin 142 and the lower end ofconnecting rod 172 are moved a longitudinal distance d from theiroriginal position. The tilting of platform 12 to the vertical positioncarries the upper pivot 174 and rod 172 an equal distance d to the rear.The new position of the link 172 is parallel thus to its originalposition. Because the shallow arc followed by pin 142 requires pin 142to move principally downwardly and to move but a very slight distanceupwardly there is no fouling of the cylinder body with any of the partsof `any of the mechanism which lie above or below it. Because there isno chassis cross beam intersecting the path of movement of connectingrod 172 (rigid cross shaft 40 lying to the rear) there is nointerference with its movement.

The ground stack push o# mechanism 24 When the platform 12 has beentilted up to a vertical position 'as indicated in phatom lines in FIG.1, the stack of bales on platform 12 rests on stanchions 51 which nowoccupy a horizontal position on the ground. Mechanism must be providedto completely free the truck from the b-ale stack which rests on thestanchions. As in the instance of the pick-up mechanism 16, it is notintended t-o limit the present sta-ck forming and erecting mechanism tothe use of a particular ground stack push off means. The push offmechanism 24 shown in FIG. 1 is merely illustrative of a means -to freethe stack forming and erecting wagon from the stack of bales depositedon the ground.

As the wagon becomes fully loaded, the endmost vertical stack of balesis slid over a push off plate 176 extending substantially all the wayacross the load platform. Push off plate 176 has its rear edge welded tola series of sleeves 178 which are freely slidable over the stanchions51. A series of hook-shaped stakes 179 are welded, one or more, to eachsleeve 178 and adapted when the load is upended as shown in dottedlines, to plow into and become embeded in the soil. Stops 180 aresecured to the upper ends of stanchions 51 and prevent the sleeves 178from being slipped entirely off the stanchions as the wagon, when thestakes are fixed in the ground, pulls away to wit-hdraw the stanchions51 from beneath the stack. The stack remains in the position from whichit is upended because push olf plate 176 and sleeves 178 are xed inposition by the stakes. When sleeves 178 reach stops 180, the stanchionswill be out from under the stack of baleswhich now rests on the ground.A slight further movement of the wagon uproots stakes 179 from theground.

The hydraulic control system 26 This system is diagrammatically shown inFIG. 4. In conjunction with this diagram of lthe electric controls forthe hydraulic system there are shown, the unit motor 20, a diagram ofthe conventional hydraulic system of `a towing vehicle which powers theunit motor 20, the mechanical hook control mechanism `through whichmovement of cylinder 134 and yits piston rod 136 are controlled,

and portions of the levers and links through which the cylinder andpiston rod operate the lift land transfer mechanism 18 and the loadcarrying bed 12. Those elements, or portions of them, which have beenpreviously described are designated by the numerals already assignedthem.

The numeral 181 indicates, generally, a functionally simpliiied diagramof the hydraulic system of a conventional farm tractor. The systemincludes a fluid tank 182, a pump P and a control valve 184 having amanual control handle 185. Handle 185 has three positions: neutral(shown), left of neutral, land right of neutral.

Flexible hydraulic lines 186 and 188, respectively, extend between theforward and rear ends of cylinder 134 and valve 184.

The hydraulic system 181 and valve 184 depicted here are not intended tobe a mechanically accurate illustration of any particular conventionalhydraulic system. They merely serve to indicate the paths of movement ofhydraulic iuid to and from cylinder 134 as related to the threepositions of valve handle 185. When valve handle 185 is in the neutralposition shown, fluid circulates freely from tank 182 through pump P tovalve 184 and back tothe tank. When handle 185 is moved to the left ofneutral, fluid moves from valve 184 through line 186 to the forward endof cylinder 134 while iiuid exhausts from the rear end of cylinder 134through line 188 back to the tank 182. When handle 185 is moved to theright of neutral, fluid ows from valve 184 through line 188 to the rearend of cylinder 134 while fluid is exhausted from the forward end ofcylinder 134 through line 186 to valve 184 fand back to tank 182.

The numeral 190 indicates a double Iacting solenoid having springs 191to automatically return to the core 192 to neutral position when bothactuating circuits are opened. The solenoid is mounted on Ithe tractorand has its core operatively connected to handle 185 of valve 184.

The two simple electrical circuits 194 and 195 along with the solenoid190 Iand the several mechanical switch actuating detents to be describedhereafter, consitutes the control system 26 for the tractor hydraulicsystem 181. A battery, or other source of electrical energy 196 providespower for circuits 194 and 195.

A bale responsive switch actuating detent 198 (see FIGS. 1 and 2 as well`as FIG 4) is carried by a pivot member 199 on the half height end wall58 of bale casing 58. A compression spring 200 between wall 58 4anddetent 198 normally biases the upper end of the detent into casing 58whereby it may be engaged by the end of a bale in casing 58 to pivot thedetent about member 199 to move Va pair of switches 201 and 202 (FIG.4).

The various switches and wires of the control system 26 have not beenshown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings. These elements lare of suchsmall size relative to the apparatus in general, that it is believedthat they would not be clearly seen in FIGS. 1-3 and would only confusethese already complex figures. The diagram of FIG. 4 indicates, onlysymbolically, the manner in which the conventional switches of controlsystem 26 are to be actuated by their respective actuating detents.

The switches 201 and 202, respectively, in electrical circuits 194 and195 are actuated by detent 198 when it is displaced from its normalposition by contact from a bale of hay. Switch 201 is normally closedand is opened as soon as detent 198 is moved. Switch 202 is normallyopen and is closed las soon as detent 198 is moved. Once switch 202 isclosed, further movement of detent 198 will merely cause the movablecontact Ito slide over the elongated xed contact 203; the switch willremain closed. This is to render switch 202 insensitive to the normalvariations in length of hay bales encountered in ordinary balingpractice. When lthe previously described forks 89 elevate the bales incasing 58 above the upper end of detent 198, spring 200 will return thedetent 198 and switches 201 and 202 to the normal positions shown inFIG. 4. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatconventional, commercially available spring biased contact switches canreadily be disposed to be actuated by detents such as 198. For example,switch 201 could be a springbiased-to-open switch which is engaged `andheld closed by detent 198 when the detent is in the normal position ofFIG. 1. Switch 202 could be a spring-biased-to-closed switch which isengaged and held open by detent 198 when the detent is in the normalposition of FIG. l. With such an arrangement, as soon as a bale engagedand moved detent 198, the switch 201 would open and switch 202 wouldclose. The switches would remain this way until detent 198 returned toits normal position.

A pair of detents 204 are journalled on a cross shaft 205 carried on therear side of the mounting frame work of stack building and transfermechanism 18. Each detent is located above the center of one side `ofthe stack being built. They are of a length sufficient to reach acrossthe stacking section 14 substantially into contact with the upper end ofsuch stacks as occupy the fore end of the carrying platform 12. (SeeFIG. l.) They are raised, as each stack reaches full height, from thefull line position in which the rear ends are juxtaposed to the top ofthe adjacent stack to steady the same, to the dotted line position inwhich they lie above the top of the stacks, and are returnable bygravity to their full line position, so soon as each builded stack istransferred rearwardly. In FIG. 2 it may be seen that the upper crossmember 120 of the stack transfer frame and the upper horizontal angularbrace 124- are slotted at 206 whereby detents 204 are clear to return totheir full line position of FIG. l as soon as the rearwardly transferredstack of bales clears the rear end of detents 204.

A pair of switches 207 and 208, respectively in electrical circuits 194and 195 are actuated by either one of the pair of detents 204 upon thatdetent being raised from its full line position toward its dotted lineposition. As indicated in FIG. 4, these switches are identical inoperation and normal position to switches 201 and 203.

A switch 209 is in circuit 194 and is operated by previously describedcamming beam 106. This switch is operated so as to be open when beam 106is in its most counterclockwise, `or home, position and to close as soonas beam 106 moves from its home position and to remain closed so long asbeam 106 remains out of home position. This is symbolically indicated inFIG. 4. Switch 209 is biased toward closed position by a spring 210.Beam 106 engages switch 209 and opens it when the beam is in homeposition as indicated symbolically at 211 in FIG. 4. As soon as beam 106pivots clockwise about its fulcrum 108, it moves away from switch 209and spring 210 closes the switch. It will remain closed until beam 106returns to home position.

Overall operation Referring especially in FIGS. l, 2 and 4, whenmechanical control lever 170 is in its up position and cylinder pin 142is in the embrace of duplex hooks 148, and piston pin 138 is free ofhooks 150, the cylinder is fixed longitudinally and the stacker is readyto vertically stack bales. The first bale delivered into bale receivingcasing 58 by pickup 16 rests just inside lthe casing. When the secondbale is delivered into casing 58 it engages the first bale and moves itinto engagement with switch actuating detent 198. This opens switch 201and closes switch 202. The closing of switch 202 charges 195 of solenoid190 (FIG. 4) which moves handle 185 of hydraulic valve 184 to itsextreme right position. This supplies hydraulic pressure to the rearface of piston 137 and oscillates camming lever 106 over cam 114 (FIG.l) so raising the bales at level A within casing 58 past dogs 68 andslightly above level B. As soon as lever 106 begins to move from itshome positions switch 209 in circuit 194 is closed. Since switch 201 incircuit 194 is now open, the closing of switch 209 produces no immediateresult. As soon as the bottom of the bale in contact with detent 198 iselevated above the upper end of the detent, spring 200 returns thedetent to normal position. This opens switch 202, thus breaking circuit195, and closes switch 201 in circuit 194. When switch 201 closes, thecircuit 194 is completed (switch 209 has been closed since lever 106began to move). This completing of circuit 194 actuates coil 194 ofsolenoid 190 and moves handle 185 of hydraulic valve 184 to its eX-treme left position. This supplies hydraulic pressure to the forward endof cylinder 134 ahead of the front face of piston 137, whereupon thepiston returns to the rear end of cylinder 134 and returns lever 106 toits home position. This lowers forks 89 `and the bales rest on dogs 68.When lever 106 returns home, switch 209 is opened and the solenoid isde-energized. Solenoid springs 191 center the solenoid core, thuscentering hydraulic valve 184 to its neutral position wherein hydraulicfluid merely circulates from supply tank 182 to valve 184 and back totank 182.

The above cycle is repeated each time two bales are moved into casing 58by the pick-up mechanism 16. The lever 106 does not oscillate beyondangle a in FIG. 1. When, however, the top of the stack being builtreaches level E (FIG. l), by the addition of subsequent pairs of balesto the bottom of the stack, and engages detents 204, it raises them totheir dotted positions which simultaneously opens switch 207 and closesswitch 208 before detent 198 is freed from the bottom most bale of thestack. Thus, in this case, when detent 198 does not become free of thebottom of the stack and returns to its normal position (closing switch201 and opening switch 202), the circuit 195 is still completed throughswitch 208 which has been closed by detent 204, while circuit 194 isstill open at switch 207 which detent 204 has opened. Thus, coil 195 ofsolenoid 190 remains energized, the core of valve 184 remains in itsextreme right position, and hydraulic fluid continues to be applied tothe rear of cylinder 134 behind piston 137. The stroke yof hydraulicmotor 134 therefore is continued, moving lever 106 through theadditional angle b FIG. 1, carrying follower 110 over arc 115 withoutfurther movement -of cam lever 100, so retaining forks 89 in theiruppermost positions (shown in dotted lin'es in FIG. l) for the timebeing. However, in moving through angle b the upper end of lever 106engages the front carriage cross member 123 in its center and so moves.the whole carriage rearwardly, and with it depending stack transferframe 116, 118, 120, so transferring the vertical stack in its entiretyfrom forks 89 to the fore end of carrying platform 12. In sotransferring the newly built stack all `stacks previously so transferredto the platform 12 are pushed rearwardly. As the transferred stackclears detents 204, the detents are returned by gravity to the solidline position shown in FIG. 1, the switch 208 in circuit 195 is openedand switch 207 in circuit 194 is closed (since lever 106 is out yof homeposition, switch 209 is closed). This opens circuit 195 and completescircuit 194, thus deenergizing coil 195' and energizing coil 194 ofsolenoid and returning handle 185 of hydraulic valve 184 to the extremeleft position. This results in the return of piston 137 to its normalposition at the rear of cylinder 134 moving lever 106 back throughangles b and a in succession, and once again lowering the: forks 89 tothe bottom of casing 58, and rendering the mechanism ready yto commencethe formation of the next succeeding stack.

When lever 106 reaches home position, switch 209 is opened, thusbreaking circuit 194, whereupon the solenoid and hydraulic valve arereturned to neutral by springs 191 as previously pointed out.

When the load platform 12 has been completely loaded from end to endwith vertical stacks and the end most such st-ack has reached theretaining stanchions 51, further vertical stacking is stopped and thevehicle is moved to the location upon which it is desired to place thegro-und stack. Thereupon, the operator .brings the vehicle to rest inthat position, grasps mechanical control lever 170 and lowers it to thedotted line position (FIGS. l and 4) thereby releasing the rear cylinderlink pin 142 from the restraint of yhooks 148 and placing piston pin 138under the restraint of hooks 150. I-Ie then grasps the manual controlhandle 185 of hydraulic valve 184 and moves it to the right (FIG. 4).This admits hydraulic pressure to the rear of cylinder 134 behind thepiston 137. In this case, however, the piston bein-g fixed in positionby engagement of hooks 150 with piston pin 138, and cylinder body 134being freed for movement, the application of hydraulic pressure movesthe cylinder bodly rearwardly swinging its rear end first slightlydownwardly as its supporting links 144 move rearwardly, and thenslightly upwardly, so carrying platform raising link 172 rearwardly toits dotted line position (FIG. 1) and moving platform 12 about the fixedcross shaft 40 from its full line to its dotted line position. This upends the load substantially to the ground, stanchions 51 onlyintervening between the ground surface and the stack. The withdrawal ofstanchions 51 through forward movement of the vehicle has already beendescribed. Platform 12 is returned to loading position by manualmovement of valve handle 185 to extreme left position.

As previously stated this invention consists particularly of novel meansfor building vertical stacks, means for transferring them to the loadcarrying platform, and means for erecting the load to form the groundstack. Modification and change of the mechanisms invented and combinedherein are 'also possible to those skilled in the art, and withoutdeparting from their generic spirit.

When production designing for greater loading requiring .greater chassisand load platform lengths, the longitudinal location of the operatingunit and the longitu- -dinal dimensions of its parts and the parts Iofmechanisms 18 and 22 associated with it may be readily varied to meetthe conditions required, including those of load distribution andbalance during all .operating conditions. The relative locations ofchassis main frame and sub-frame parts, particularly their cross beamsare to be located to suit the requirements of the several mechanisms 18,20 and 22 which need to be met. This present semi-diagrammatic showingof them is illustratively only of the manner of `supporting thesemechanisms in their present form and relative locations. Likewise theelements and arrangement of elements of the hydraulic and mechanicalcontrol system may be modified to meet other conditions.

Any and all modifications yof the means invented which fall within thegeneric spirit of invention disclosed and set forth herein should beprotected by the `annexed claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A bale loading and stacking Wagon comprising means adjacent theforefront of the wagon for receiving and positioning lengthwisetransversely of the wagon bales introduced thereto, means for liftingbales vertically upwardly from said receiving and positioning means andforming vertically extending stacks of bales in overlying relationshipto said receiving and positioning means by adding successively receivedand positioned bales to the bottom of the stack being formed, meanstransferring each stack as completed horizontally rearwardly of theregion of its building, and a single motor means having two degrees ofmovement controlling both the lifting and the transferring means, thelifting means being effected through one of the two degrees of movementand transfer being effected through the other two degrees.

2. A bale loading land stacking wagon comprising means adjacent theforefront of the w-agon for receiving and positioning lengthwisetransversely of the wagon bales introduced thereto, means for liftingbales vertically upwardly from said receiving and positioning means andforming vertically extending stacks of bales in overlying relationshipto s-aid receiving and positioning means by adding successively receivedand positioned bales to the CFI bottom of the stack being formed, motormeans for powering said lifting means, a detent controlling theapplication and removal of motor power from said lifting means, whichdetent is bale actuated to effect the application of power and lspringbiased to effect its removal, and means transferring each stack lascompleted horizontally rearwardly of the region lof its building.

3. A bale loading land stacking wagon according to claim 2 in whichstack operated detent means is provided controlling the application andremoval of motor power to said stack transferring means, said detentmeans affecting the application of power upon the completion of eachstack and upon transfer of the completed stack effecting removal ofmotor power.

4. A loading and stacking wagon for bales of hay or like material havingelongated longitudinal sides and relatively short transverse endscomprising a chassis having a front end and a rear end, wheels on saidchassis supporting the chassis for movement forwardly through la field,a load-carrying platform mounted on said chassis and having a forwardend disposed rearwardly of said chassis front end, means on said chassisdirectly in front of said load carrying platform for supporting aplurality of bales in end to end abutting relation with said elongatedbale sides transverse to the direction of travel of said chassis, saidbale supporting means having an opening toward one side of said chassisto receive bales, means on said chassis adjacent said opening to engagebales extending longitudinally relative to said chassis and turn andfeed s-aid bales end first transversely through said opening onto saidsupporting means, bale lifting means carried :by said chassis in frontof said forward end of said load-carrying platform for engaging balesextending transversely end to end on said supporting means and liftingsaid bales vertically to a position at least a bale height above andoverlying said supporting means, control means actuating said liftingmeans to lift bales from said supporting means upwardly under the bottomof previously lifted bales to form a vertical stack of bales inoverlying relation to said supporting means, the transverse extension ofsaid stack being related to the width of said load carrying platform,means on said chassis operable to engage the forwardly disposedlongitudinal sides of bales in said vertical stack and move the stackrearwardly from .the lifting means to transfer it directly from ysaidlifting means lonto said load-carrying platform, and control means foractuating said stack transferring means when the vertical stack reachesa .pre-determined height.

5. A loading and stacking wagon for bales of hay or like material havingelongated longitudinal sides and relatively short transverse endscomprising a mobile chassis having a front end and a rear end, aload-carrying platform on said chassis, means on said chasss directly infront of said platform for supporting bales at a level lower than saidplatform with said elongated bale sides extending transverse to thedirection of travel of said chassis, said bale supporting means havingan opening toward one side of said chassis to receive bales, means onsaid chassis adjacent said opening to engage bales whose longitudinal.sides extend in the direction of travel of said chassis and turn andfeed said bales end first transversely through `said opening onto saidsupporting means, means on said chassis for lifting said transverselyextending bales vertically from said supporting means to the level ofsaid platform and building a vertical stack of transversely extendingbales overlying said supporting means by the lifting of successivelyreceived bales upwardly under previously lifted bales, and meansoperative in respo-nse to the building of said vertical stack oftransversely extending bales to a pre-determined height to transfer saidstack horizontally rearwardly from said lifting means directly onto saidload-c-arrying platform.

6. A loading and stacking wagon for bales of hay or like material havingelongated longitudinal sides and relatively short transverse endscomprising a chassis having a front end and a rear end, wheels on saidchassis supporting the chassis for movement forwardly through a field, aload-carrying platform mounted on said chassis, means on said chassisfor supporting bales directly in front of said load carrying platformwith said elongated bale sides transverse to the direction of travel ofsaid chassis, said supporting means having an lopening toward one sideof t-he chassis to receive bales, means carried on said chassis adjacentsaid opening to engage bales extending longitudinally relative to saidchassis and turn and feed said bales end first transversely through saidopening onto said supporting means, means for lifting said transverselyextending bales vertically upwardly from said supportng means under thebottom of previously lifted bales to form a vertical stack oftransversely extending bales in overlying relationship to saidsupporting means, and means transferring each vertical stack oftransversely disposed bales, as completed, horizontally rearwardly fromsaid lifting means directly onto said platform.

7. A loading and stacking wagon for `bales of hay, or like material,having generally planar elongated longitudinal Isides and relativelyshort transverse ends, said Wagon comprising a chassis having a frontend and a rear end, wheels on said chassis supporting the chassis formovement forwardly through a field, a load-carrying platform mounted onsaid chassis and having a forward end disposed rearwardly of saidchassis front end, means on said chassis for supporting bales at a firsthorizontal level immediately in front of said load carrying platformwith said elongated bale sides transverse to the direction of travel ofsaid chassis, said bale supporting means having yan opening toward oneside of said chassis to receive bales, means on said chassis adjacentsaid opening to engage bales whose longitudinal sides extend in thedirection of Itravel of said chassis and turn and feed said bales endfirst transversely through said opening onto said supporting means, balelifting means carried by said chassis at said front end thereof adjacentsaid forward end yof said load-carrying platform, said bale liftingmeans having a bale engaging member normally underlying bales on saidsupporting means and vertically movable between said first horizontallevel and an overlying upper level, control means actuating said liftingmeans to move said bale engaging member vertically from said first levelto said upper level to lift bales from said supporting means upwardlyunder the bottom of previously lifted bales and form a vertical stack oftransversely extending bales in front of the forward end of saidload-carrying platform in overlying relation to said supporting means,means on said chassis operable to engage the `forwardly disposedlongitudinal sides of bales in said vertical stack and transfer thestack rearwardly from said lifting means directly onto saidload-carrying platform, and control means for actuating said stacktransferring means when the vertical stack reaches a predeterminedheight.

8. The bale loading and stacking wagon as recited in claim 7 includingmeans at said upper level for engaging and supporting bales 4as they aresuccessively elevated to said upper level by said lifting -means andthereby support-ing said stack while the stack is being formed, saidmeans for supporting the stack constituting a transverse series of haydogs on each flank of the stack.

9. A loading and stacking wagon for bales of hay, or like material,having generally planar elongated longitudinal sides and transverseends, said wagon comprising a chassis having a front end and a rear end,wheels on said chassis supporting the chassis for movement forwardlythrough a field, a load-carrying platform mounted on said chassis andhaving a forward end disposed rearwardly of -said chassis front end,means on said chassis for supporting bales lengthwise transversely ofthe chassis at a first horizontal level adjacent the forward end of saidload-carrying platform, said bale supporting means 14 having an -openingtoward one side of said chassis to receive bales, means on said chassisadjacent said open ing to engage bales whose longitudinal sides extendin the direction of travel of said chassis and turn and feed said baleslengthwise transversely through said opening onto said supporting means,bale lifting means carried by said chassis at said front end thereofadjacent said forward end of said load-carrying platform, said balelifting means having a bale engaging member normally underlying bales onsaid supporting means and vertically movable between said firsthorizontal level and an overlying upper level, control means actuatinglsaid lifting means to move said 'bale engaging `member vertically fromsaid first level to said upper level to lift bales from said supportingmeans upwardly under the bottom of previously lifted bales and from avertical stack of transversely extending bales -adjacent the forward endof said load-carrying platform inoverlying relation to said supportingmeans, means on said chassis operable to engage the forwardly disposedlongitudinal sides of bales in said vertical stack and transfer thestack rearwardly onto said load-carrying platform, a single hydrauliccylinder carried by said chassis, means operatively connecting saidcylinder to both the vertically acting bale lifting means and therearwardly acting stack transferring means, and control means foractuating said stack transferring means when the vertical stack reachesa predetermined height.

10. A loading and stacking wagon for bales of hay, or like material,having generally planar elongated longitudinal sides and transverseends, said wagon comprising a chassis having a front end and a rear end,wheels on said chassis supporting the chassis for movement forwardlythrough a field, a load-carrying platform, mounted on said chassis andhaving .a forward end disposed rearwardly of said chassis front end,means on said chassis for supporting bales lengthwise transversely ofthe chassis at a first horizontal level adjacent the forward end of saidload-carrying platform, said bale supporting means having an -openingtoward one side of said chas-sis to receive bales, means on said chassisadjacent said opening to engage bales whose longitudinal sides extend inthe direction of travel of said chassis and turn and feed said baleslengthwise transversely through said opening onto said supporting means,bale lifting means carried by said chassis at said front end thereofadjacent said forward end of said load-carrying platform, said balelifting means having a bale engaging member normally underlying bales onsaid supporting means and vertically movable between said firsthorizontal level and an overlying upper level, control means actuatingsaid lifting means to move said bale engaging member vertically fromsaid first level to said upper level to lift -bales from said supportingmeans upwardly under the bottom of previously lifted bales and form avertical stack of transversely extending bales adjacent the forward endof said load-carrying platform `in overlying relation to .saidsupporting means, means on said chassis operable to engage the forwardlydisposed longitudinal sides of bales in said vertical stack and transferthe stack rearwardly onto said load-carrying platform, control means foractuating said stack transferring means when the vertical stack reachesa predetermined height, means mounting said load-carrying platform onsaid chassis for vertical swinging movement relative thereto to erectthe load into a ground stack, a single hydraulic cylinder carried bysaid chassis, and means operatively connecting said cylinder with eachof the vertically acting bale lifting means, the rearwardly acting stacktransferring means and the vertically swingable load-carrying platformto affect the required operating movement of each.

11. A loading and stacking wagon for bales of hay, or like material,having generally planar elongated longitudinal sides and transverseends, said wagon comprising a chassis having a front end and a rear end,wheels on said chassis supporting the chassis for movement forwardlythrough a field, a load-carrying platform mounted on said chassis andhaving a forward end disposed rearwardly ,of said chassis front end,means on said chassis for supporting bales lengthwise transversely ofthe chassis at a first horizontal level adjacent the forward end ofload-carrying platform, said bale supporting means having an openingtoward one side of said chassis to receive bales, means on said chassisadjacen-t said opening to engage bales whose longitudinal sides extendin the direction of travel of said chassis and turn and feed said baleslengthwise transversely through said opening onto said supporting means,Ibale lifting means carried by said chassis at said front end thereofadjacent said forward end of said load-carrying platform, said balelifting means having a bale engaging member normally underlying bales onsaid supporting means and vertically movable between said firsthorizontal level and an overlying upper level, control means actuatingsaid lifting means to move said blae engaging member vertically fromsaid first level to said upper level to lift bales from said supportingmeans upwardly under the bottom of previously lifted bales and for-m avertical stack of transversely extending bales adjacent the forward endof said load-carrying platform in `overlying relation to said supportingmeans, means on said chassis operable to engage the forwardly disposedlongitudinal sides of bales in said vertical stack and transfer thestack rearwardly onto said load-carrying platform, control means foractuating said stack transferring means when the vertical stack reachesa predetermined height, means mounting said load-carrying platform onsaid chassis for vertical swinging movement relative thereto to erectthe load into a ground stack, a single hydraulic cylinder carried bysaid chassis, means operatively connecting said cylinder with each ofthe vertivally acting bale lifting means, the yrearwardly acting stacktransferring means and the vertically swingable load-carrying platformto affect the required operating movement of each, and means forshifting the application of the power of said hydraulic cylinder fromsaid bale lifting means and said stack transferring means to saidvertically swingable load-carrying platform when the platform is filledto erect the load into a ground stack.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 25,750 3/1965Adams.

2,550,587 4/ 1951 Neja 214-62. 2,586,324 2/1952 Graves 214-83262,702,131 2/1955 Leupke. 2,848,127 8/1958 Grey. 3,054,515 9/1962 Nawman214-6.2 3,159,287 12/1964 Stroup. 3,163,302 12/1964 Pridgeon.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

M. TEMIN, I. E. OLDS, Assistant Examiners.

1. A BALE LOADING AND STACKING WAGON COMPRISING MEANS ADJACENT SHEFOREFRONT OF THE WAGON FOR RECEIVING AND POSITIONING LENGTHWISETRANSVERSELY OF THE WAGON BALES INTRODUCED THERETO, MEANS FOR LIFTINGBALES VERTICALLY UPWARDLY FROM SAID RECEIVING AND POSITIONING MEANS ANDFORMING VERTICALLY EXTENDING STACKS OF BALES IN OVERLYING RELATIONSHIPTO SAID RECEIVING AND POSITIONING MEANS BY ADDING SUCCESSIVELY RECEIVEDAND POSITIONED BALES TO THE BOTTOM OF THE STACK BEING FORMED, MEANSTRANSFERRING EACH STACK AS COMPLETED HORIZONTALLY REARWARDLY OF THEREGION OF ITS BUILDING, AND A SINGLE MOTOR MEANS HAVING TWO DEGREES OFMOVEMENT CONTROLLING BOTH THE LIFTING AND THE TRANSFERRING MEANS, THELIFTING MEANS BEING EFFECTED THROUGH ONE OF THE TWO DEGREES OF MOVEMENTAND TRANSFER BEING EFFECTED THROUGH THE OTHER TWO DEGREES.